The August Property Owners Meeting was jammed packed full of topics to discuss.
Practically all of Beacon Court showed up about their parking tickets and that was heavily discussed – We will save that for a separate post. That was the bulk of the meeting – stay tuned.
61 Precinct August Crime Report
Bob Turner for Congress
Bob Turner who is running against Anthony Weiner stopped by gave a speech on why we should vote for him.
He is holding a Volunteer Meeting at Buckley’s 7:00 August 10 2010
Community Gardens
GBCares donated $400 to Donna Davis, who spends thousands of hours maintaining the garden.
GBCares wants the GBPOA to make a matching donation to the garden. The Property Owners made clear that they will and are 100% supporting the gardens – but because it’s not their money to give away – there are procedures that need to be followed.
Apparently, what was happening was whatever supplies were needed for the garden – someone picked it up and submitted receipts to the GBPOA. The GBPOA had an arrangement with Donna to submit a yearly budget but they was never followed.
If you don’t know where the Community Gardens are. It is the lot to the left of the library on the Bartlett Avenue side.
Caitlin Sarubbi Leads the Parade Atop a "Good Human I SCREAM" Parade Car
There was nothing but sun and smiles this weekend as Gerritsen Beach kicked Kiddie Beachs’ Opening Day Celebration
The parade kicked off at Gerritsen and Whitney Avenues led by the Vollies, VWF Color Guard, Gerritsen Beach Community Marching Band, Stars Dancing Center, GBPOA, and lots of Gerritsen Beach beach goers in tow. The parade ended at the Lois Avenue entrance of Kiddie Beach.
I would like to think that although we have many parades in Gerritsen Beach throughout the year, I consider this parade one of the best and that it is somewhat of a “sponge parade”. Meaning that although it it starts off with only few dozen people at the start by the time the parade hits Lois Avenue there are at least a few hundred people.
This years honoree was Gerritsen Beach resident Caitlin Sarubbi – who notably competed this year in the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Games.
Also Kiddie Beach dedicated the children playground to Liam James Walsh who suddenly and unexpectedly passed away a few years ago at the age of 6.
Like years past we took hundreds of pictures and if you need/want/desire a copy of pictures taken please email me at info@gerritsenbeach.net. Otherwise here is the Photo Galleries:
Update: 5/8/2010 – 11am – Updated the reason of resignation of a board member.
Generally speaking this was a quiet meeting. There was no votes, nothing of great significance, other than lots of great announcements, so lets recap what did happen.
Here is the rundown:
A board member did resign in response to last meeting, and Charlie Hogan was introduced as a replacement to an actual three cheers of Hip Hip Horray. Correction: “it was based on the negativity of this website: from the “grabber” headlines to the content that many feel is detrimental to our community”. “Charlie Hogan on board, but he did not replace that member, he replaced a member who had previously resigned for health reasons, after serving many years.”
Right off the bat it was announced that YES the property owners were going to split the meeting into two sessions. The first session was being called a no Gerritsenbeach.net, Camera allowed session, dubbed the “business session”. Then they will go into the “public session” for elected officials and new business. This is strange because it was announced that this course of action was not going to happen. More strange so that these are publicly announced meetings.
After announcement there was as a brief “pile on”, to have Gerritsenbeach.net shut off the camera which was reluctantly complied with. In a bit of a twist, John Walsh, the board member who was pushing for a legal means to shut us down for good, said that maybe the camera should be on for the beginning part of the meeting for people that are unable to attend. Which we agree with.
After the “business session” was over which was only the treasures report. The treasurer left the room in an apparent protest. The 61st precinct got up to bat after that.
61st Precinct
The 61st wants you to remain vigilant and report anything suspicious by calling 911.
There were 15 summonses were issued in the past month at Seba Ave Park for being in the park after 2am.
911 vs 311
If its strictly a noise complaint (parties)call 311
If you see quads in the park call 911 especially if there is ballgames going on.
Kids hanging out on the corner and being disorderly call 911
Next wednesday there will be Community Council meeting at the precinct
Jemal Discussion
The property owners did discuss the current situation with Jemal but added that apparently two businesses are being run illegally on Lacon Court. (more on this soon).
A King Kong Tree Removal and Chipping company has already been shut down but is ignoring the buildings department. and another business run by an “Izzy” that is renting boat slips and operating a boat canvas operation.
It was also announced that the DEC did in fact try and fine Jemal but there is some question about if Jemals name is on certain deeds, it might be danzas name. DEC can not reach the owner.
Community Gardens
The community gardens is looking for volunteers to mow their lawn.
Upcoming Events
Marty Golden Save the Bus Rally – Wednesday, May 19, 2010 7:00 p.m. – Xaverian High School Auditorium
Kiddie Beach Opening Day and Parade – June 6th Gerritsen and Whitney
Memorial Day Parade – May 31st – Burnett and Whitney
White Island Meeting – Thursday May 13th – Matthews Knights of Columbus
Although Anthony Weiner talked heavily about Health Care and Immigration reform at the last property owners meeting it’s a little out of our scope and we won’t touch on those larger topics. You can watch the whole video here. However there are some topics which you need to know about!
The Green Streets money still exists! After the crash and burn death of the project, we were under the assumption that Anthony Weiner allocated the money elsewhere or NYC DOT stole allocated it elsewhere, but no we were wrong! Here’s the deal.
The Green Streets money was allocated toward Gerritsen Beach through our federal gas tax dollars through our congressman. DOT did try to steal use it for other purposes but the congressman took it off the table until Gerritsen Beach can find a use for it.
Councilman Lew Fidler asked a very direct question about the federal warrant guideline that DOT uses to continuously deny requests for a traffic signal at Channel Avenue.
Congressman Weiner did say that the issue with DOT it isn’t a money issue but an issue of DOT of understanding some streets don’t cross and pedestrians still need to be protected. The federal warrant is only a guideline however it is used by transportation commissioners around the country as the end all say all document. It basically says there needs to be a certain amount of traffic on streets that intersect to qualify for a signal. For us – the outgoing Channel Avenue traffic would have to be just as heavy as and the north and sound bound Gerritsen Avenue traffic.
Lew offered up the idea that he and all the other elected officials get together with the congressman and DOT to offer up some of the money to use for a traffic signal.
Although Congressman Weiner jokingly implied that our chances are slim unless we want to do anything with a bike lane he did say YES!
There may be hope yet for a traffic signal at Channel Avenue. A 40 year battle may be coming to an end.
At the recent GBPOA meeting George Broadhead, president of the GBPOA, brought up that certain people object to cameramen being present at the meeting. He described about what their board feels would be a good solution to address this concern: Splitting their meeting into a public session, where elected officials and the public can speak and the press may be present, then, after a brief intermission, a members-only meeting where a camera may not be present, and only members may speak.
This is where things got fun. John Walsh, a board member of the GBPOA, who successfully led the charge to allow 18-year olds to be voting members of the GBPOA, is apparently leading the charge specifically against GerritsenBeach.net. At first, he takes issue with the anonymous comments that the site allows stating “If you don’t have the balls to put your name to something, what do you got? You got nothing.” He goes on to to say that it is effecting the community by hurting GBCares, because “the camera’s presence” it is making people think twice about speaking openly at the meeting. He went on to explain that he and he and other members of the board will resign if something isn’t “resolved”.
“In my opinion it comes down to the right to freedom of the press, and your right as a commenter to comment without fear of retaliation. I have heard numerous times, from different people, some are heads of local organizations, that would love to know who some of you are so they can beat the hell out of you. Which is why I allow anonymous comments.”
He used my quote to suggest that there needs to be some anonymity at the GBPOA public meetings.
He went on to describe that he has hired a lawyer and a private detective, all pro-bono, to find a legal means “to shut down his camera and to shut it down for good!” He went on to say “I love the work you do, there is a lot of good stuff you do.” “There is going to be things I disagree with and that’s alright – my concern is for whats going on here.”
George Broadhead, who to his credit has stuck up for freedom of the press many times, stated – in an apparent tit-for-tat, countering Mr. Walsh’s point that people are not attending the meeting because of GB.net’s presence “It does not look like people are not coming to the meetings”, referring to the size of the crowd. Broadhead said he is also against the “Anonymous people”, but “the website has the sames rights as a newspaper and also the same rights as anyone in a public meeting.”
George then knocked Walsh’s statement of hiring a private detective “doesn’t that sound like an invasion of privacy? That’s doing the same thing as knocking the 1st amendment right.”
Jane Dewitt, who is a board member of both GBCares and the GBPOA, stated that her, her husband, GBCares, and many people have been “knocked on (GB.net)”. “It’s all negative”. “I don’t read rags…to me that’s a rag, I get calls. My last call was that GBCares dumped roof shingles back weeds”
Michael Taylor, Chairman of GBCares Board, chimed in: “Yes he said it’s our fault”
The pile on continued when Mr. Taylor, Chairman of GBCares Board, asked “Does (GB.net) have press credentials, is he press? or is he just some crazy stalker that’s putting out video clips to embarrass the community.”
For the record, according to the NYPD,:
“Working Press Cards are for those individuals who are full-time, news staff employees, whose routine duties require them to cross police and fire lines and are regularly involved in spot emergency news coverage, i.e.; shootings, fires, homicides, etc.
“Press Identification Cards are issued to full-time members of the press who do not hold the Working Press Cards but do have a need for an official Police Department identification card in order to fulfill their various assignments of crossing police lines at the scene of a “non-emergency” news event such as a parade, theatre premiere, etc.
Since no Gerritsen Beach meeting falls into any of this, you don’t need a credential to attend and report.)
Let’s cut through the crap – this is an outright attack on the 1st Amendment, on GerritsenBeach.net personally and an attack on Gerritsen Beach itself as a community. There are people in this community who want to be “community leaders” and do whatever the hell they want to do, and not be accountable to the community. They want to have their cake and eat it too, and without you knowing. Before blogging and citizen journalism, that was the norm. No more. You deserve to know what is happening in your community – the good and the bad – and you deserve leaders who understand what it means to truly lead. Leaders like George Broadhead, who deal openly and honestly, and don’t care who is in the room when he opens his mouth.
The Gerritsen Beach Property Owners March meeting nothing much happened. The meeting started a little after 7:30, was lightly attended (a few board members are hospitalized), and ended in under 20 minutes.
20 Minutes?! Really? This was mostly due to the fact that the MTA Brooklyn meeting was on the same day and most or all of our local pols were at the meeting – talking before the public.
The census bureau was there announcing they are still hiring.
Kiddie Beach is planning a ton of kid friendly and family friendly events including but not limited to.
Teen Dances
An Open Mic Band Night
Rockband Night (video game)
Chinese Auction
Chili Cookoff
There is nothing of substance to report, not even the 61st was there on time, they did however show up while everyone was cleaning up and gave an impromptu briefing. They did acknowledged the Xanax arrest, and a few other possession charges at seba avenue park. Surprisingly, There was another arrest worth mentioning, another beach “kid” (born 1987) mugging people by pushing people to the ground and stealing their bags. This occurred in the beach, on Ocean Avenue, and in Park Slope.
There will also be a St. Patricks day parade on March 13th stepping off at 12:00 pm from the VFW.
Sheepshead Bay/Plumb Beach Civic Association March 2, 2010; usually meets on the first Tuesday of the month at Baron DeKalb, Knights of Columbus, 3000 Emmons Avenue, 7:30 p.m.; 718-891-1937; www.sbpbcivic.org.
Gerritsen Beach Property Owners Association, March 3, 2010 (and each first Wednesday) at 7:30 p.m.; St. James Lutheran Church, Gerritsen and Florence avenues.
Marine Park Civic Association, March 17, 2010 at 8 p.m.; Public School 207, 4011 Fillmore Avenue; 718-336-7343, or visit www.marineparkcivic.org.
Community Board 15, March 23, 2010 at 7 p.m.; Kingsborough Community College, 2001 Oriental Boulevard (Faculty Dining Room); 718-332-3008.
61st Precinct Community Council meets at 3093 Ocean Ave., on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 7:30 p.m.
Brooklyn Borough President Markowitz might be looking to hold a small private meeting with the heads of both the SB/PBCA and the Bay Improvement Group regarding plans for the Golden Gate Inn, located on the corner of Knapp St. and Shore Pkwy. According to sources, Markowitz and his staff are very anxious to set up the meeting.
Rumor is that the plans include a deal with a major hotel company purchasing the land and building both a larger hotel and an apartment building.
Some whispers have even said low to middle-income housing on the site. According to sources, the meeting is supposed to be one-on-one-on-one with the heads of the organization, with others strictly prohibited.
Word of organizing this meeting also apparently got back to Senator Marty Golden. According to multiple sources, Golden was told that the meeting was to get the “feelings of the community” regarding possible projects, but at least one source says that the Senator did not believe that a meeting with two people would adequately express the “feelings of the community.” Golden also supposedly told Markowitz that he wants to be included in any discussion regarding the Golden Gate Inn, which is in his district.
I guess no one from the Property Owners or GBCares was invited because we aren’t included in anything…ever. With that said and completely jumping topics, Green Streets are coming whether we like it or not. If we had a community as strong as lets say Manhattan Beach, we would get @#$% done!
Ive said it before:
Although there is something comforting about the small-town feeling of Gerritsen Beach, we are not an island. We are part of a larger community in one of the biggest cities in the world. We are tax-paying, voting citizens and we NEED representation in the outside world or we will be forgotten about.
Freedom of Speech Dies in Gerritsen Beach – Community Group Takes Steps to Block Out “Cameras” and “Press”
[The Whole Video]
At the recent GBPOA meeting George Broadhead, president of the GBPOA, brought up that certain people object to cameramen being present at the meeting. He described about what their board feels would be a good solution to address this concern: Splitting their meeting into a public session, where elected officials and the public can speak and the press may be present, then, after a brief intermission, a members-only meeting where a camera may not be present, and only members may speak.
This is where things got fun. John Walsh, a board member of the GBPOA, who successfully led the charge to allow 18-year olds to be voting members of the GBPOA, is apparently leading the charge specifically against GerritsenBeach.net. At first, he takes issue with the anonymous comments that the site allows stating “If you don’t have the balls to put your name to something, what do you got? You got nothing.” He goes on to to say that it is effecting the community by hurting GBCares, because “the camera’s presence” it is making people think twice about speaking openly at the meeting. He went on to explain that he and he and other members of the board will resign if something isn’t “resolved”.
He went on to quote GerritsenBeach.net
He used my quote to suggest that there needs to be some anonymity at the GBPOA public meetings.
He went on to describe that he has hired a lawyer and a private detective, all pro-bono, to find a legal means “to shut down his camera and to shut it down for good!” He went on to say “I love the work you do, there is a lot of good stuff you do.” “There is going to be things I disagree with and that’s alright – my concern is for whats going on here.”
George Broadhead, who to his credit has stuck up for freedom of the press many times, stated – in an apparent tit-for-tat, countering Mr. Walsh’s point that people are not attending the meeting because of GB.net’s presence “It does not look like people are not coming to the meetings”, referring to the size of the crowd. Broadhead said he is also against the “Anonymous people”, but “the website has the sames rights as a newspaper and also the same rights as anyone in a public meeting.”
George then knocked Walsh’s statement of hiring a private detective “doesn’t that sound like an invasion of privacy? That’s doing the same thing as knocking the 1st amendment right.”
Jane Dewitt, who is a board member of both GBCares and the GBPOA, stated that her, her husband, GBCares, and many people have been “knocked on (GB.net)”. “It’s all negative”. “I don’t read rags…to me that’s a rag, I get calls. My last call was that GBCares dumped roof shingles back weeds”
Michael Taylor, Chairman of GBCares Board, chimed in: “Yes he said it’s our fault”
The pile on continued when Mr. Taylor, Chairman of GBCares Board, asked “Does (GB.net) have press credentials, is he press? or is he just some crazy stalker that’s putting out video clips to embarrass the community.”
For the record, according to the NYPD,:
Since no Gerritsen Beach meeting falls into any of this, you don’t need a credential to attend and report.)
Let’s cut through the crap – this is an outright attack on the 1st Amendment, on GerritsenBeach.net personally and an attack on Gerritsen Beach itself as a community. There are people in this community who want to be “community leaders” and do whatever the hell they want to do, and not be accountable to the community. They want to have their cake and eat it too, and without you knowing. Before blogging and citizen journalism, that was the norm. No more. You deserve to know what is happening in your community – the good and the bad – and you deserve leaders who understand what it means to truly lead. Leaders like George Broadhead, who deal openly and honestly, and don’t care who is in the room when he opens his mouth.
These fascist attacks must not be tolerated. Let’s see what lawyers I can contact pro-bono.